Coin control for vending machines



y 5, 1931. J. G. SCHOFIELD 1,803,440

COIN CONTROL FOR VENDING MACHINES Original Filed Jd'ly 25, 2 29 8Sheets-Sheet 1 J. G. SCHOFIELD May 5, 1931.

COIN CONTROL FOR VENDING MACHINES Original Filed July 25, 1 29 8Sheets-Sheet .2

ay 1931; J. ca. SCHOFIELD COIN CONTROL FOR VENDING MACHINES OriginalFiled July 25, 3 29 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 y 5, 1 J. G. SCHOFIELD 1,803,440

COIN CONTROL FOR VENDING MACHINES Original Filed July '25, 1 29 8Sheets-Sheet .4

May 5, 1931. J. G. SCHOFIELD COIN CONTROL FOR VENDING MACHINES GriginalFiled uui 25,

1 29 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 5, 1931. J. G. SCHOFIELD 1,803,440

COIN CONTROL FOR VEN'DING MACHINES Original Filed July 25, 1 29 8Sheets-Sheet 6 11 1 II III May 5, 1931.. J. .G. SCHOFIELD 1,303,440

COIN CONTROL FOR VENDING MACHINES Original Filed July 25, 1 29 8Sheets-Sheet 7 y 5, 1931. I J. G. SCHOFIELD 1,803,440

COIN CONTROL FOR VENDING MACHINES Original Filed July 25, 1929 8Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented May 5 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN G.SCHOI'IELD, WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AS SIGNOB, BY MmASSIGNMENTS, TO NEWSPAPER MECHANICAL SALES COMPANY, 01 WABHDIGTON',

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA A. CORPORATION OI DELAWARE I 00m CONTROL FORVENDING MACHINES Original application filed July 25, 1929,.Seria1 Na-380,870. Divided and this application fl ed October 1929. Serial No.397,267. Y

This invention relates to vending machines and has special reference toa coin control for vending machines of the type adapted especially forthe vending of newspapers and 5 like articles. Thisapplication' is adivision of my copending application Serial Number 380,870 filed July25, 1929. a

Vending machines for the saleof newspapers have to meet certain peculiarrequire-..

ments not met with in the sale of most other articles since the usualvending machine has its coin control arranged for the reception of coindeposits of uniform value while newspapers usually have a week dayedition which sells at one-price, a Sunday edition selling at anotherprice and sometimes special editions at another price or prices.Moreover, it sometimes. happens that the same publishing company ownstwo or more papers which have difl'erent prices. For instance, apublishing company may own a morning paper selling for two cents on weekdays and five cents on Sunday and an eveningpapcr selling at three'centson week days and ten cents on Sunday. Consequently, a

vending machine acceptable .for use by a 4 newspaper publisher must haveits coin control arranged with a considerable degree of flexibility asregardsthe amount of the deposit necessary to free the deliverymechanism of the. machine for delivery of the paper. Attempts have beenmade to overcome the usual one price release in such machines byroviding several coin actuated release meclianisms in the one machine,respectively working upon the insertion of a particular ,coin or coinsandany one of which, upon the insertion of the proper coin deposit,acting to free the delivery mechanism. Naturally, this leads tomultiplication of parts with the attendant cost and liability toderangement. Other attempts have been made to provide machines whichoperate only after the insertion of a certain number of coins and, whilethese are not' so complicated as those last mentioned, they areimpracticable for newspaper purposes especially in five and ten centeditions of papers usually costing two or three cents since few peoplecarry I jections the present invention has several im- .portant ob ects.

One of these objects is to provide a novel and improved coin actuatedrelease mechanism in a vending machine of this type e wherein coins ofdi rent values are adapted to actuate the release mechanism inaccordance with the position in which the coin con trol is set.

A second important ob'ect of the invention isto provide an im rove coincontrolled re-- lease mechanism a apted for efiective operation, inaccordance with its setting, upon the deposit of a certain definitenumber or coin release will work if the number and cha-racter of-coinsdeposited agrees with the setting.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved setting device for such a coin control. p

A fifth important object of the invention is to provide an improved coincontrol for machines of this description having a single coin slot forreceiving coins of different denominations, the mechanism of the controlbeing readily adjustable to accommodate coins of diflerent numbers andsizes.

A sixth important object of the invention is to provide, in such asingle slot coin control device, automatic means for adjusting the sizeof the slot.

With the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafter aparent, the invention consists in general so certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of arts hereinafter fully described,illustrated 1n the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed. a y

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate likeparts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete invention. V

Figure 2 is a partially disassembled perspective sectional inside view,looking from the left rear corner of the invention and showing the frontand right side especially.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the invention with the cover or lid removed,the view having its longitudinal middle portion broken out.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 Figure 8.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section on the line 6-6 of Figure 3 with theparts in the position assumed when the delivery mechanism is raised.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing the deliverymechanism partly depressed.

Figure 8 is is a section on the line 5-5 of a view similar to Figure 6but showing the delivery mechanism with the parts in the positionsassumed during upward movement.

Figure 9 is a plan view of that part of the invention shown in Figure 6.

Figure 10 is a greatly enlarged view looking from the interior towardthe lower front right hand corner of the invention and showing themechanism for holding the latch in released position until the paper iswithdrawn.

Figure 11 is :an enlarged section on the line 1111 of Figure 3 andshowing the coin mechanism set for three cents.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 but showing the coin mechanismset for two cents.

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 11 but showing the coin mechanismset for five cents (a nickel).

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 11 but showing the coin mechanismset for ten cents (a dime).

Figure 15 is a disassembled View details of the coin mechanism.

In the'present embodiment of the invention a complete vending machinehas been shown in order to make clear the manner in which this peculiarcoin control device acts to release the delivery mechanism and also inorder to make clear how the coin control may be locked in position byinsertion of the proper coin or coins.

In this embodiment it will be seen that there is provided a telescopiccasing so that articles of different thicknesses such as daily andSunday newspapers may be held in suitable quantities. The front sectionof this casing is provided with side walls 10 and between these sidewalls is located a bottom 11 inclined upwardly from the front to rear.

of certain The side walls 10 extend somewhat below this bottom andterminate in horizontal bottom edges while the top edges of said sidewalls are parallel to the bottom 11. The upper part of the front of thecasing is closed in by a glass panel 12 below which there are providedextensions 13 extending forwardly from the side walls and united by alower front strip 14, the extensions being preferably formed by flangingthe ends of the strip 14. This strip 14 is thus spaced forwardly fromthe side walls 10 and the space formed is closed at the top by a coverplate 15. At each side of the glass panel 12 the respective side wall 10is flanged inwardly as at 16 and these flanges 16 not only stiffen thestructure but one of the flanges also affords space for the cutting of acoin slot as will be presently set forth.

On each side wall 10 there is provided a guide rail or bar 17 inclinedparallel to the top edge of the respective side wall and positioned onthe outside thereof about opposite the bottom 11. Slidably engaged withthese rails 17 are the side walls 18 of the rear section of the casing,these side walls having their top edge coterminous of the walls 10. Thewalls 18 are closed at the rear by a rear wall 19 which forms the rearwall of the casing whether expanded or collapsed and a bottom 20 isprovided which is slidable over the bottom 11, the two sections of thebottom being connected by pin and slot connections 21. (See Fig. 2.)

The top of the casing is closed by a hinged lid' having a front section22 flanged at its sides and having its flanges connected by pin and slotconnections 23 with the rear lid section 24 which has hinge connectionwith the rear of the rear casing section. On the outside of the casing,wherever desired, suitable channel members 25 are arranged to form cardholders for the reception of instruction cards, advertising signs andother like matter.

Within the casing and spaced from the right wall 10 by suitable means isa dividing plate 26 which separates the front part of the easing into amagazine, lying between the plate 26 and left side wall, and a coinmechanism section to the right of said plate. At the top rear cornerthis plate is secured to the adjacent side wall by a bolt 27 and acorresponding but shorter bolt 28 extends inwardly from the left wall10. On the rear wall is fixed a pair of brackets 29 to which are pivotedarms 30 the free ends of which are notched to engage the bolts 27 and 28res ectively, the arms when thus engaged holding the casing expandedand, when disengaged permitting collapse or telescoping of the rearsection on the front section. Also on the rear wall are pairs ofbrackets 31 which support the rear ends of lazytongs 32, the front endsof which are connected to brackets 33 on a presser frame 34 having atits bottom a spring extensionj35. This frame is urged forwardly by thelazytongs springs 36 and keeps the papers P urged forwardly so that thefront paper is in position for delivery.

At each side of the machine adjacent the front thereof is a pivot bolt37 on which is pivoted the upper end of a hanger 38, the two angershaving their lower ends connected by across channel 39. Fixed to thischannel to extend downwardly and forwardly therefrom are the channelfingers 40 which, it will be noticed from Figure 5, support the papernext to be delivered, the succeeding paper resting on the channel itselfand the remainder on the magazine bottom. Fixed to the inside of thefront plate 14 are stop fingers 41 against which the lower part of thepaper which is supported on the channel fingers 40 rests. It will now beobvious that, so long as the cross channel 39 is in its forward positionno paper can pass down for delivery through the delivery slot 42, itbeing noted that the front edge of this slot is formed by the bottomedge of the plate 14 while the rear edge of the slot is formed by aguard plate 43. Springs 44 serve to hold this cross-channel normallyforward but can yield topermit the channel to swing rearwardly when theaper at the front is forced down by the feet ing mechanism now to bedescribed.

This'mechanism is especially shown in Figures 2 and 6 to 9 inclusive andit will there be seen that there is secured to the inside of the plate14 at about the center a pair of vertical guide strips 45 between whichis slidably mounted an operating bar 46 which has its lower endprojectin below the lower edge of the plate 14 to permit theoperatinghandle 47 to extend forwardlv into position forconvenience in graspingby the purchaser. On the rear face of this operatin bar 46 is carried aboss 48 to the sides of 'hich are hin ed the pin plates 49 providedadjacent their ree ends with rearwardly and downwardly projectin feederpins 50. These plates 49 have their Free ends urged forwardly by thedouble leaf spring 51 which is fixed to'the boss 48 and has oppositelyextending arms engaging said pin plates. Adjacent'the free end of eachpin plate is a vertically disposed cam arm 52 having at the edge nextthe respective pin plate a cam flange 53. Each arm is pivoted at itslower end on a pivot screw 54 and is urged towards its pin plate by aspring 55. The cam flange 53 of each cam arm has its u per edge inclineddownwardly and rearwar ly from the top to about the center and from thatpoint downwardly and forwardly and terminates at the bottom in anoutwardly curved end 56. Each in plate is provided on its extremity witha nger 57 which normally rests on the upper part of the edge .of its camflange 53.

In the operation of this part of the device,

assuming the mechanism free to move, depression of the handle 47 movesthe bar 46 downward and this carries the pin plates down with it. Asthese plates move downtheir free ends move at first rearwardly so thatthe pins enter the paper and carry it down, the cross channel 39swinging back by the action of the lower part of the paper on thefingers 40, Next, further downward movement of the pin plates causesthem to pull the pins slightly out of the pa er and at the lower limitof movement the ngers ride off the cam edge and lie against the curvedportions 56 so that upward movement of the han dle 47 and bar 46 willnow cause the pin plates to move upwardly in their forward position, thecam arms 52 swinging out as in Figure 8 to permit this upward movement.Onreaching the upper limit of movement the pin plate fingers 57 risehigh enough to permit the cam arms to resume their normal position underthe influence of the springs Obviously, each repetition of thismovement'pushes the paper down one step until it is protrudedsufficiently far below the slot 42 to be easily grasped by thepurchaser.

The latching mechanism which controls the Operation of the delivery orfeeder just described may also be seen in the same figures as thatmechanism and too in Figure 10. This'latching mechanism is constructedas follows. About half way between the center and right end of the plate14 there is provided on its inner side a pivot pin 59 on which isloosely pivoted the vertical arm 60 of a latch lever having itshorizontal arm 61 extending over the rear face of the operating bar andconnected thereto by a pin and slot connection 62. A spring 63 normallyholds this horizontal arm raised and thus also acts to hold theoperating bar 46 raised. At the angle of the latch lever is a pivotscrew 64 onwhich is pivoted one end of a latch link 65. This link isprovided with a slot 66 through which passes a screw 67 engaging in thefront plate 14. This slot is of such size that the lever may not onlyslide longitudinally on the screw 67 but may also rise and fall on saidscrew, being normally held raised by a spring 68. On the upper edge ofthis link '65 is a shoulder 69 adapted, when the link is raised, toengage after sli ht movement toward the bar 46 upon its depression witha fixed stop 70' thus preventing further movement of the link anddepression of the bar 46. When, however, the link is depressed (see Fig.7) the shoulder 69 clears the stop and full movement of the link anddepression of the bar is permitted. Extending longitudinally from thelink at the free end thereof is a stem 71 carrying a double cam head 72,both the upper and the lower edges of this head forming cams. This camhead works between two fingers pivoted on the right hand screw 37, therebeing an upper finger 73 and a lower finger 74. As will be understoodwhen the description of the coin control is reached these fingers formpart of this control and it may be here mentioned that, so long as theproper coin deposit has not been made, the finger 73 will be more freeto lift than is the figure 74 to drop while, if the proper coin depositis made the finger 73 cannot lift and the finger 74 may be forced down.Consequently, if the proper coin deposit is not made and an attempt ismade to depress the handle 47 the upper edge of the cam head 72 willlift the finger 73 and the shoulder 69 will engage the sto 70, thespring 68 holding the link 65 up. I however, the proper coin deposit ismade then the finger 73 will be held from lifting and an attempt todepress the handle 47 and deliver a paper will result in the lowerfinger 74 yielding under the influence of the cam head 72 and the link65 being forced downwardly by engagement of said cam head with the upper(Snow immovable) finger 73 so that the shouler 69 clears the step 70 andfull operation of the handle is permitted.

As will be hereinafter explained, downward movement of the finger 74frees the coin deposit from restrainim finger 73 but this finger willnow be loc ed down until the paper delivery has been completed. To thisend (see Fig. 10) the right hand hanger 38 is connected by a link 75with a complete operation latch arm 76 pivoted as at 77 at its lower endand having a finger 78 which, when the arm 76 is swung rearwardly by thepreviously described movement of the cross channel 39 swingingrearwardly as the paper is moved down, engages over the finger 73 asshown in said finger and thus holds it from risinguntil the aperdelivery is complete whereupon the orwardmovement of the cross channel39 to its normal osition causes forward movement of the arm Sand freeingof the finger 78 from the finger 73 so that this finger is now in itsnormal condition and will rise if any attempt is made to feed out asecond paper for one deposit of coin.

In the member 16 at the right of the machine there is provided a coinreceiving slot 79 and, as shown best in Figures 11 to 14 inclusive,there is a coin chute having a rearwardly and downwardly inclinedportion 80 leading from this slot and terminating rearwardly in avertical portion 81 which latter portion is open at its front side. Thislatter portion is closed in normal conditions at its lower front part bya plate 82 which is carried on the end of a lever 83, this lever beingthat which carries the finger 74. The lever 83 is' normally held down asin Figure 11 by aspring 84 but rises to the position shown in Figure 12upon depression of the finger 74 in the manner previously described.Carrying the finger 73 is a coin lever 84 having a rearwardly extendingfoot 85 the end of which engages the single coin or uppermost of severalcoins when such coin or coins are in the vertical portion 81 of the coinchute. A spring 86 normally holds this lever raised as shown in Figure11 but, when there are no coins or an insufficient number in thevertical portion 81 this lever may move rearwardly and downwardly uponlifting of the finger 73 as previously described. Thus, if the properdeposit of coins be made the finger 73 cannot lift and the deliverymechanism latch will release to permit delivery of a paper as previouslydescribed, the movement of the latch lifting the plate 82 and freeingthe coin or coins to drop into the box or till 87. A guide and stop 88for the free end of the coin lever is secured to the coin chute and notonly limits forward movement of the coin lever but serves to guide thefoot into proper engagement with the coin. The coin chute is carried bya plate 89 and in the lower rear part of this plate is a cam slot havinga vertical lower end 90 the upper part of which connects'to an upwardlyextending rearwardly inclined portion 91 above which is a secondvertical portion 92 terminating in a forwardly extending horizontalportion 93. At the rear of the coin chute is a coin selecting bar 94having a cam pin 95 at its lower end fitting in the cam slot justdescribed.

The distance between this pin and the plate 82 is such as to preventdownward movement of the proper coin so long as the plate 82 is in itsnormal position closing the front of the coin chute. For instance, whenthe pin 95 is in the portion 90 of the cam slot the distance between thepin and plate 82 is here indicated as slightly less than the diameter ofa cent so that in its lowest position (Figure 11) three cents are shownas supported in the coin chute and in its next higher position (Fi re12) two cents are thus supported. If the air be raised till the pin 95is inthe por tion 92 of the cam slot then the distance between the pinand plate is increased to hold a five cent piece and if the pin ispositioned forwardly in the portion 93 the distance is decreased to holda dime. In order to adjust the bar to its desired position there isprovided on the late 89 a pivot 96 on which is pivoted the middle of aT-lever having an arm 97 carrying a pin 98 adapted to be selectivelyengaged in one of the sockets 99 of a fixed quadrant 100. This T-leveris also provided with a rear arm 101 having a slot 102 wherethroughpasses a pin 103 carried by the upper end of the bar 94. This pin alsofits loosely in a slot 104 formed in the upper part of the plate 89 sothat the upper end of the bar 94 18 thereby guided. Adjacent this slotthere is provided a fixed bar 105 for camming the upper end of the bar94 rearwardly, the rear edge of the bar 105 being inclined andshouldered for that purpose and the upper end of the bar 94 having arounded shoulder to as= sist in the camming operation. It will be seenfrom Figure 14 that this camming effect is only produced when the pin 98is engaged in the forward socket 99 at which time the bar 94 is raisedto its uppermost position and its upper end is cammed rearwardly itrocks on the fulcrum 106 so that its lower end moves forwardly, the pin95 moving into the portion 93 of the cam slot so as to set the coincontrol for a dime. forward arm 107 carrying a finger 108 and dependingfrom a pivot on the plate 89 is a swinging arm 109 having a rearwardlyextending projection 110. The lower end of this arm lies just behind theupper part of the coin slot, projecting into the coin chute for thatpurpose, and insertion of cents and nickels merely causes the arm toswing rearwardly out of the way so long as the pin 98 is set for nothingmore than a nickel. When the T- lever is set for dimes, however, thefinger 108 engages the finger 110 and pushes the swinging arm forwardlyto close the upper part of the coin slot so that the latter, under theseconditions will admit nothingof greater diameter than a dime. Thus whenthe bar 94 is set for dimes the coin slot is also set for dimes only. I

Alongside the coin chute is a tubular guide 111 which lies verticallybehind the glass front and has a window 112 in its front so thatportions of a price slide or strip 113 may be exposed therethrough toshow numbers.

corresponding to the required coin deposit, one such number beingdisclosed through the window in Figure 1. Secured to this price strip isa bracket 114 having a slot 115 wherethrough passes a screw 116 toconnect the strip to the arm 107. By this means movement of the T-leversets the price strip to expose a figure showing the amount to beinserted to oper ate the machine.

The operations of the several portions of the mechanism having beenheretofore described it is not again necessary to repeat theseoperations. It may be said, however, that the invention is prepared forservice by placing any desired number of papers in the magazine andsetting the T-lever to the proper position in accordance with the priceat which the papers are sold. The cover is then closed and secured. Whena person wishes to buy a paper he notes the figure exposed on the pricestrip and deposits coins in accordance therewith. After this he graspsthe handle 47 and, by one or more vertical reciprocations he feeds theforemost paper downwardly until it can be grasped and withdrawn or hemay continue to reciprocate the handle to feed the paper fully outalthough the former method is preferable. Should he insert the wrongnumber of coins, as one when two are indicated or one or two when threeare indicated, then the uppermost Also the T-lever has a coin in thevertical part of the coin chute will not be in position to stop movementof the lever 84 and the unlatching'mechanism will not free the feeder.Similarly, any other effort to obtain a paper for less than its value byinserting coins of less value than the paper will be frustrated.

It is to be noted that, although the present embodiment is disclosed asfor four values, viz, two cents, three cents, five cents and ten cents,the device may be modified to suit any desired values and any number ofdifferent values in reason.

There has thus been provided a simple and eflicient device of the kinddescribed and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of the invention without departing from the material spiritthereof. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to theexact form herein shown and descri ed, but it is desired to include allsuch as properly come within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. In a coin controlled vending machine, a coin chute having a coinholding portion provided with a longitudinal slot, a movable pivoted baradjacent said chute and carrying a pin projecting through the slot totravel therein into said chute to travel therein and spaced from theopposite side of the chute at a distance less than the diameter of acoin to be held, and adjusting means to vary the position of the freeend of said bar and the pin'longitudinally of the chute whereby to varythe number of coins held.

2. In a coin controlled vending machine, a coin chute having a coinholding portion, a movable bar adjacent said chute and carryin a pinprojecting into said chute and spaced from the opposite side at adistance less than the diameter of a coin to be held, adjusting meanstovary the position of said bar and pin longitudinally of the chutewhereby to vary the number of coins held, and camming means for varyingthe position of said pin toward and from the opposite side as the pin isadjusted longitudinally whereby to vary the size of coins held.

3. In a coin controlled vending machine, a coin chute having a coinholding portion, a movable bar adjacent said chute and carrying a pinprojecting into said chute and spaced from the opposite side at adistance less than the diameter of a cointo be held,

adjusting means to vary the position of said 4. In a coin controlledvending machine, a coin chute having a coin holding portion, a movablebar adjacent said chute and carrying a pin projecting into said chuteand spaced from the opposite. side at a distance less than the diameterof a coin to be held, adjusting means to vary the position of said barand pin longitudinally of the chute whereby to vary the number of coinsheld, camming means for varying the position of said pin toward and fromthe opposite side as the pin is adjusted longitudinally whereby to varythe size of coins held. an adjustable value indicating device visiblefrom the exterior of the machine, and an operative connection betweensaid adjusting means and value indicating device to move the latter asthe former is moved.

5. In a coin controlled vending machine, a coin chute having a coinholding portion, a movable bar adjacent said chute and carrying a pinprojecting into said chute and spaced from the opposite side at adistance less than the diameter of a coin to be held,

adjusting means to vary the position of said bar and pin longitudinallyof the chute whereby to vary the number of coins held, camming means forvarying the position of said pin toward and from the opposite side asthe pin is adjusted longitudinally whereby to vary the size of coinsheld, a coin slot at the intake end of said chute, and means controlledby the movement of said adjusting means for varying the efl'ective sizeof said cam slot.

6. In a coin controlled vending machine, a coin chute having a coinholding portion provided with an open side, movable means normallyclosing said open side, including a lever pivoted transversely of saidchute and having a free end swinging transversely of the chute towardand from the open side and a blade fixed to the free end of the levertransversely thereof and normally extending across said open side, anarticle delivery mechanism, and means controlled by the action of thedelivery mechanism to move said means away from said side to free theheld coins.

7. In a coin controlled vending machine, a coin chute having a coinholding portion provided with an open side, movable means normallyclosing said open side, an article delivery mechanism, means controlledby the action of the delivery mechanism to move said means away fromsaid side to free the held coins, and means to adjust the effectivelength of said coin holding portion.

8. In a coin controlled vending machine, a coin chute having a coinholding portion provided with an open side, movable means normallyclosing said open side, an article delivery mechanism, means controlledby the action of the delivery mechanism to move said means away fromsaid side to free the held coins, and means to adjust the effectivelength and width of said coin holding portion.

9. In a coin controlled vending machine, a coin chute having a coinholding portion provided with an open side, movable means normallyclosing said open side, an article delivery mechanism, means controlledby the action of the delivery mechanism to move said means away fromsaid side to free the held coins, said coin holding portion having theside opposite the said open side also open, a movable bar closing saidlast open side and having its lower end spaced from said movable meansat a distance less than the diameter of a coin to be held, and adjustingmeans to vary the position of said bar longitudinally of the chutewhereby to vary the number of coins held.

10. In a coin controlled vending machine, a coin chute having a coinholding portion provided with an open side, movable means normallyclosing said open side, an article delivery mechanism, means controlledby the action of the delivery mechanism to move said means away fromsaid side to free the held coins, said coin holding portion having theside opposite the said open side also open, a movable bar closing saidlast open side and having its lower end spaced from said movable meansat a distance less than the diameter of a coin to be held, adjustingmeans to -.vary the position of said bar longitudinally of the chutewhereby to vary the number of coins held, and camming means for varyingthe position of said pin toward and from the opposite side as the pin isadjusted longitudinally whereby to vary the size of coins held.

11. In a coin controlled vending machine, a coin chute having a coinholding portion provided with an open side, movable means normallyclosing said open side, an article delivery mechanism, means controlledby the action of the delivery mechanism to move said means away fromsaid side to free the held coins, said coin holding portion having theside opposite the said open side also open a movable bar closing saidlast open side an having its lower end spaced from said movable means ata distance less than the diameter of a coin to be held, adjusting meansto var the position of said bar longitudinally of t e chute whereby tovary the number of coins held, an adjustable value indicating devicevisible from the exterior of the machine, and an operative connectionbetween said adjusting means and value indicating device to move thelatter as the former is moved.

12. In a coin controlled vending machine, a 'coin chute having a coinholding portion provided with an open side, movable means normallyclosing said open side, an article delivery mechanism, means controlledby the action of the delivery mechanism to move said means away fromsaid side to free the held coins, said coin holding portion having theside opposite the said open side also open, a movable bar closing saidlast open side and having its lower end spaced from said movable meansat a distance less than the diameter of a coin to be held, adjustingmeans to vary the position of said bar longitudinally of the chutewhereby to vary the number of coins held, camming means for varying theposiw t'ron of said pin toward and from the opposite side as the pin isadjusted longitudinally whereby to vary the size of coins held, anadjustable value indicating device visible from the exterior oi themachine, and an operative w connection between said adjusting means andvalue indicating device to move the latter as the former is moved.

13. In a coin controlled vending machine, a coin chute having a coinholding portion provided with an open side, movable means norreallyclosing said open side, an article delivery mechanism, means controlledby the action of the delivery mechanism to move said means away fromsaid side to free the held coins, said coin holding portion having theside opposite the said open side also open, a movable bar closing saidlast open side and having its lower end spaced from said movable meansat a distance less than the diameter of a coin to be held, adjustingmeans to vary the position of said bar longitudinally of the chutewhereby to vary the number of coins held, a coin slot at the intake endof said chute, and means controlled by the movement 013 said adjustingmeans for varying the effective size of said cam slot.

in testimony whereof I afiix m signature.v

JOHN G. SCH FIELD.

